A copy of the Davis-Monthan Airfield Register with cross-references
to pilots and airplanes is available here.

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This information comes from the listings of Non-Prefixed
and Non-Suffixed aircraft reviewed by me in the archives of
the National Air & Space Museum, Washington, DC.

Kinner Airster 2743

Registration Number 2743

A Case of Forced Collateral Leading to Pillage

This aircraft is a Kinner Airster, S/N K.E.8. The Kinner
Airplane and Motor Corp., Glendale, CA built it in June, 1924.
It was equipped with a Hispano-Suiza engine of 300 HP, S/N
6023 built by Wright on 9/18/1922. Its wingspan was 39 feet,
wing area 468 square feet and length 29 feet. It weighed 3,600
pounds.

It was sold, and license applied for, on 5/12/1927 to Dr.
T.C. Young, 620 East Broadway, Glendale, CA. He, “changed
body from cabin to open cockpit” and it was disapproved
upon inspection on 12/8/1928.

Six months later it landed at the Davis-Monthan Airfield
on 6/3/1929 at 11:40 AM. The pilot was Leo Root, carrying
his “copilot”. They were inbound from Marfa, TX.
They departed for Los Angeles at 1:30 PM the same day.

The airplane was reported sold to Sidney Neighbors, Houston,
TX in February, 1930. In a letter of 3/29/1930, Dr. Young
states, “Neighbors started to fly to Guatemala, and
cracked up somewhere in Texas, reported in poor condition
on the flying field at El Paso, Texas.” There is no
indication whether “poor condition” refers to
the airplane or the pilot.

Inspector Hall reported on 6/3/1930, “This plane was
flown to El Paso, Texas by two men, and was stored at El Paso
municipal airport. Men registered at Gateway Hotel waiting
for $$$ which did not arrive. Gateway Hotel took over airplane
and two parachutes. Left outside hangar – instruments
stolen and plane wrecked by weather, kids and souvenir hunters.
The motor, a 300 HP Hisso c/n 6111, was removed and is now
stored at airport by the Gateway Hotel.” The airplane’s
license had been cancelled as of 5/20/1930. Its fate may be
a result of the Great Depression.

UPLOADED: 6/9/05 REVISED:

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